CAUSE I'M RADIOACTIVE ☣︎ RTA|sick


She stands a fair distance from the camp looking inward to it with a scowl on her maw and an understanding of what was transpiring. It was no surprise to know she'd caught it, Moorpaw had been sick and they had spent enough time together that she either gave it to her niece or got it from her. Either way, Mintshade wasn't a fool and she knew she was inflicted. It had started with just a sore throat, chasing rabbits had worn her out quicker than it normally would, when she was breathless after only a brisk jog she knew and her chest ached and rattled with each gasping, wheezing breath. There was no point going back to camp now, she knew the badgerset was the safest and proper option now but that didn't mean she had to like it.
To think she had been feeling rather well this moon so far, Badgermoon's useless and traitorous tail had been run out and the joy that brought he was only dampened by the realization that Sunstride now had more authority over her; not that she listened him most the time anyways but the mere thought of it was enough to annoy her. Mintshade had been fit and perfectly healthy until only a few days prior and then it struck like the bolt of lightning that had scorched the stone her sister sat upon at fourtrees. On long, shaky steps she made her way toward the hollow dens for the other quarantined cats and sighed as she slid down into it to join them, offering Moorpaw and Weaselclaw the faintest of cheeky grins and a rasping scratch of a greeting, "Room for one more?"
She sounded awful and she knew it, but here there was solidarity and hopefully either Wolfsong or Cottonpaw paused to check in soon so she could inform the clan she was also now out of commission.
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[Ooc]
Quarantine friend tag - @WEASELCLAW & @MOORPAW
 
──ᨒ↟↟ᨒ↟ᨒ↟↟ᨒ── After Lambcurl's passing, Wolfsong approaches the badger set with a resigned sort of dread. Today, he brings herbs for Sootstar's family, and he cannot help but to wonder how she might react if he were to arrive and find Weaselclaw —or young Moorpaw— in the same state as Lambcurl. To think of Sunstride and one of their kits left here, far from comfort— he does not know that he would spend a single moment without them on his mind.

It is worse, then, when he arrives to see none other than Sootstar's sister joining Weaselclaw and Moorpaw. She would not be here if she were not feeling the effects of yellowcough, and if he did not believe otherwise, it would be easy to assume StarClan lacks approval for Sootstar. The others who were ill –and recovered with lungwort— incline Wolfsong to view it as pure coincidence. But a strange coincidence nonetheless. "Mintshade," he greets after lowering his herbs. "I did not expect to see you here. How are you feeling?"

Though they have not gotten along well in the past, it matters little now.
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WOLFSONG of WINDCLAN FORMER ROGUE TURNED MEDICINE CAT. 38 MOONS, HE/HIM, NPC X NPC. MATES WITH SUNSTRIDE (07/05/2023). BIOGRAPHY, PINTEREST, & PLAYLIST.
  • ★★★☆☆ WOUNDS: You're (mostly) in safe paws. You'll know if he's less experienced if he asks for your permission to try a treatment. No wound can scare him away from knowledge.
    ★★★☆☆ INFECTION: He can prevent most infections. If you feel feverish, let him know; he'll hum thoughtfully over herbs and sniff your wound before saying, "With your blessing..."
  • ★☆☆☆☆ ACHES & PAINS: If you complain to him of pain, he'll ask where. If it's a headache, you'll likely feel a bit better. For anything else, "Try this, if you'd like, and tell me how you feel."
    ★☆☆☆☆ BROKEN BONES: At best. he can ask you to remain lying down in the den. He may try to distract you with conversation while he considers what herb to feed you.
  • ★★★★★ TRAVELING HERBS: Going somewhere? No worries; Wolfsong knows just what you need to stay hale and healthy during your journey. The rest is up to you.
    ★★☆☆☆ KITTING: Thanks to Starlingheart, he's better prepared for the arrival of kits, but any complications will need a little faith and a lot of luck.
  • ★☆☆☆☆ POISONS: It's best if you avoid eating anything unfamiliar to you— it's probably just as unfamiliar to Wolfsong. The best he can do is offer you yarrow and sit with you.
    ★★☆☆☆ ILLNESS: If it's white or greencough, you'll likely recover. Otherwise, prepare for odd concoctions and the usual request that you consent to a little trial-and-error.
 
Wolfsong's continued presence is a small comfort. It's a face he recognizes, though Weaselclaw is beginning to doubt the sincerity of the soul behind his old friend's single blue eye. He knows now there are beings who walks this forest wearing the skins of those he knows, and there is nothing but cold, merciless justice behind their false faces. Weaselclaw does not voice this paranoia aloud—he fears what will happen if the angels know he knows their secret, that they are here to ensure this yellowcough plague wipes them all out—but the herbs he takes from Wolfsong are regarded with confusion and fear.

"What is this," he demands, voice rasping. "Why do I have to eat this? It won't cure me. It can't—"

He lifts his dull, battered blue gaze and meets the sharp green of another. Mintshade, he knows her, but suddenly his body is colder than it has been in a long time. He does not know if he can tell between the true and the false anymore.

"You're sick too," he whispers, turning his face away. He doesn't like looking at them for too long—only he and Moorpaw and Lambcurl had been true, and he's afraid now that the others come to populate his nest.


  •  
  • weasel . weaselclaw
    — he/him ; lead warrior of windclan
    — heterosexual ; taken by Sootstar
    — short-haired chocolate tabby with white and blue eyes
    — "speech", thoughts, attack
    — penned by Marquette
    — chibi by Oliver
 
Seeing Mintshade head to the badger sett filled her blood with ice and dread. She had just recovered from this illness herself and was lucky enough to be cured. Now, they were out of the cure, and cats were still getting sick. What were they going to do? The journeying cats weren't going to be back any time soon... How many cats were going to die?

She has faith in Wolfsong. He'll take care of her... And everyone else. She mostly cares about Mintshade, though.

"Not you too...." She says sadly, watching her former mentor.

Wolfsong brings herbs for the patients in the den, and to her momentary surprise, Weaselclaw objects to them. There's a brief flash of anger she feels.

How dare he? Stop being difficult. Wolfsong is trying to make you feel better. Be more appreciative.


"Wolfsong has brought them to help you feel less miserable." She says, voice returning to its monotone state, though she'd like to hiss at him for even thinking about making things difficult for Wolfsong, who is still possibly the only cat she could consider a parental figure.

Looking back to Mintshade, she realizes she lacks any comfort to give. How can she comfort someone without knowing if it's true or not? Is false comfort better than no comfort? She can say it will be okay, but will it?

"I'll make sure to bully Riverclan twice as hard for you while you're sick." She says. "And work twice as hard, too."
 
Cottonpaw does not think of the coincidences like Wolfsong does; her family populates the badger sett all on their own, but she finds it a rotten case of misfortune rather than anything else. They're Star chosen, Star blessed. "Weaselclaw, please," her tone is just short of begging her father, her stance lingering in beside her mentor, "Like Azaleafrost said - they'll make you feel better."

Cottonpaw had recognized the barebones of Mintshade's voice from before, but it's not until the warrior and medicine cat address her that she realizes the black furred feline is also sick. She whispers a clearly forlorn, "No..." shoulders sagging a bit. StarClan, let the journey go smoothly and quickly... She hopes that their ancestors wouldn't drag it along purposefully.

"I'll find some moss for some water, alright, Wolfsong?" she just needs to step away from this all right now.​